Cotton stripper



June 11, 1929. IF, R PREND 1,715,769

COTTON STRPPER Filed July 6, 1927 l 4 Sheets-Sheet l m d m, n W In Ml F i@ n d l el ma r mv mw um MQW 1% S F NJ ..3 n o mm )I J 3 D l wm sv S E?. m Q d June l, 1929. F. FRIEND 1,716,769

' COTTON STRIPPER Filed July 6, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 JuneV l1, 1929. F. R. FRIEND LYISJSQ l COTTON STRIPPER Filed July 6, 1927 4 SheeiS-Shee 5 @flg .3..

\ l Lim\ @s f l Inventor Fzqyd @UWM/mii y By .f

jim@ L, QL F, R FREEND 1,716,769

COTTON STRIPPER Filed July 6, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 71 uen for floyd jig-'fiend `'FLOYD R. FRIEND,

n 1,716,769 PATENT OFFICE.

or LUBBOCK, TEXAS.

COTTON sTRrrPER.

Application filed July 6,

This invention relates to machines adapted to be drawn over a field of growing cotton and piovided with means for engaging the cotton stalks whereby to strip the cotton bolls therefrom.

The invention has for an important object to provide a paii` of rotatably mounted cotton strippeis arranged in spaced parallel relation and having spirally arranged stripping edges formed thereon and means for controlling the forward edge of the strippers for the purpose of guiding the cotton stalks betweenthe same. Separate means are also provided for rais-v ing or lowering these forward ends of the strippers whereby to vertically raise or lower the same in order to strip the cotton `from either high or low stalks. r

A still further object is to provide means for adjusting the .position of the strippers with respect to eachv other.` j

Another object is to provide an apparatus of this character of a simple and practical construction, strong and durable, efficient and reliable iii performance, relatively inexpen- -sive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted forA the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages residein the special construction, combination and ar-v rangement of the various elements forming the invention as more clearly hereinafter describedand claimed, reference being had to 'the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein i Figure 1 is a top plan view. Figure 2 is a side elevational view. n n `Figure 3 is a rear end viewwith the stripper removed and showing the manner of mounting the rear of the frame.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the rear end ofthe machine with the stripping apparatus removed.

Figure 5 is a detail showing the adjustablemounting for the front ends of the stripper rod. i

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view j of one end of the stripper rods, and,

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the adjusting vlever for spacing thefront endsof the strippers.

`Referring now to the drawing wherein for Y the purpose of illustration I have disclosed ay preferred embodiment of my inventioml provide a cottonstripping apparatus comprising a stationary frame formed of a pair ,1927. Serial No. 203,809.

of longitudinally extending side members 5 having their front ends connected by a transverse member 6 and upon which is mounted a pair of front ground engaging wheels 7, the rear ends of the side members 5 being clamped at opposite sides to a substantially U-shaped rear axle 8 as shown in Figure 3 of the drawing. The rear axle 8 provides supporting means for rear wheels 9, one of which is provided at its hub with a sprocket wheel 10 carrying a chain 11 operatively connectedwith an upper sprocket wheel 12 mounted on the end of a transversely extending shaft-13. The shaft 13 is journaled in bearing brackets 14 arranged on the upper end of a rear stripping frame support 15, said rear stripping frame support comprising a pair ofvertically arranged side members 16 connected at their lower ends with the .longitudinally extending member 20 of a pair of horizontally disposed receptacle supporting frames. The members 2O are connected at spaced intervals with transverse member 17, the rear end of the members 2OV having anv The frames 20'are movable both verticallyk and horizontally in a transverse direction and are supported near their front ends by upwardly extending rods 21 having their upper ends pivotally connected with pivotally mounted arms 22 carried on a transverse bar 22 secured by uprights 23 supporting a stationary upper frame 24, which frame has its forward end supported byposts 25 extending upwardly from the mounting for the forward wheels 7. To the arms 22 is connected a link 2G, having its upper end pivotally connected with a leverv27 extending rearwardly of the machine and arranged to be secured in adjusted position by aquadrant 27, supported on a transverse frame member 24:', said lever tlierebyproviding means for vertically ad j usting the frames 20. j

The adjacent sides of the frames 2O are arranged inspaced parallel relation as shown in Figure 1 of the drawing, the forward ends of eachL of said frames being curved inwardly so as toact as a. guide and direct the cotton stalks between the frames as the machine travels forwardly. Each of the frames 2O carry transversely arranged rods 28 near their forward ends suitably supported in brackets 2S), with the outer ends of each thereof tixedly secured to the outer edge oit the frame by bolts and nuts 30 and having their opposite ends bent at right angles in a rearward direction as shown at 3l and. constituting a bearing tor the liorward end ot a stripper 232, said stripper being rotatably mounted on the end oit the rod El and secured against .torward movement with respectto the rod Q8 by means o't a collar The strippers 32 carried on the inner end of each of the rods 28 are arranged in spaced parallel relation and extend longitiulinall y between the inner edges o't the iframe 2() and provided with bevelled gears 34: at the rear ends thereof, said gears being engaged by similar gears 35 mounted on tlie shaft 13. rfhe rear ends ot these strippers may be supported in bearing brackets 36 carried on inclined frame members 37 ei;- tending longitudinally of the machine in parallel relation with the strippers.

N ear the 'forward ends of the trames Q0 arranged an. arch-shaped member 3S having its upper edge provided with a vertically extending pin 89 adapted to be'received in the slotted end -lO of a horizontally shitting lever 1-,1, said lever being pivotally mounted at el intermediate its end to the transverse member 2st. This lever stl permits the iorward ends oit the trames 2O and the strippers 32 to be moved horizontally in a side to side direction whereby to guide the cotton stalks between the same.

I also provide means for adjusting the space bet-ween the toi-ward ends oit the strippers by means or an angular lever 'sl-2 having a slotted end a3 arranged forwardly thereof and arranged. to receive the outer end of the rod i8 on which the forward end of one ot the strippers is mounted, said lever 4:2 extending rearwardly with an operating handle arranged on t-he rear end adapted to slide the rod Q8 transversely whereby to move the forward end of the stripper carried thereon toward or away from the opposite stripper.

As shown in Figure G of the drawing the strippers are constructed of twisted bars, which may be either square-shaped in cross- Ysection or hexagonally or otherwise shaped to 'form tlattened sides tliereon.v By twisting the bars the edges 4:5 thereof are thus spirally arrzuiged and provide relatively sharpened strippin edges. As shown in Figure l oi the (flrawing the strippers 32 are Varranged to rotate in opposite directions and outwardly with respect to each other so that .the cotton bells when stripped from the cotton stalks are discharged at opposite sides of the stripper and into suitable .receptacles which may be carried by the frames 20.1 yAs willbe noted Atrom an inspection of Figure 2 of the drawing the strippers are arranged at'an inclined heights.

angle, extending upwardly toward the rear of the machine thereby adapting the same for 'use with respect to plants o'l varying in addition, the forward end of the strippers may be adjusted vertically by the lever 27 so as to elevate 'the trames 20 su'lliciently above the ground to avoid contact with obstacles as well as to strip the bolls from either high or low plants.

The lever :li'or vertically adjusting the iframe as well as the lever for guiding the iframes transversely and for adjusting the Ylorward end of one of the strippers are arranged for operation within easy reach oit the driver-ts scat @i6 so that the same may be ma.- nipulated without the necessity oit.' the driver leaving his seat. y

The bearing brackets 3G include means for adjusting the rear ends of the. strippers 32 in spaced relation comprising a threaded bolt t8 securing the bracket to the iframe member 37 and having adjusting nuts 49 adapted to move the bracket transversely thus permittingA the strippers to be moved toward or away from each other. The gears 35 are likewise adjustable transversely to compensate lor the movement oit the gears carried on the strippers, said gears being threadedly carried on the shat 13 and having adjusting nuts 5() for securing the gears in transversely adjusted position.

A pair of vehicle attachin g brackets L7 are carried by the front vertical frame member 25 whereby to attach a suitable draft appliance for drawing the machine over the lield. I

It is obvious that the invention is susceptible to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit or scope of the appended claims and I accordingly claim all such forms of the device to which I am entitled.

I claim l. In an apparatus of the class described, a vehicle having a stationary frame mounted thereon, a movable frame supported at its rear end upon said stationary trame, said movable `traine. including a pair of horizontally disposed frame members arranged in spaced parallel relation at opposite sid-es of the vehicle and having guides formed at their forward ends, said movable trame having its forward end mounted for vertical and transverse adjustment with respect to said stationary iframe, a pair of' stripper rods arranged in spaced parallel relation between said movable Pframe members and rotatably supported thereon, and having operating gears arranged at the rear ends of said strippers, and transverse adjusting means for each end of said stripper rod independent fromV said trame member adjustment. j

2. In an apparatus of the class described7 a vehicle having a Istationary frame mounted thereon, a movable frame including a pair of horizontally disposed frame members arranged longitudinally in .spaced parallel relation at opposite sides of the vehicle and having their rear ends supported by said stationary frame for free horizontal swingingmovement and having guides formed at the front ends thereof, means for suspending the forward ends of said movable melnbers from said stationary frame, permitting vertical adjustment of said members, an arch-shaped connecting member at the forwardends of said frame members, a pin extending upwardly therefrom, a pivotally mounted lever engaging said pin whereby to shift said members transversely ofthe vehicle, a transversely arranged rod freely mounted at the forward end of each of said members, a pair of longitudinally extending spaced parallel stripper bars rotatably mounted at their forward ends on said rod and operatively Connected at their rear ends with the wheels of the vehicle and a lever controlled from the rear of said bars and connected with one of said transverse rods adapted to adjust the forward ends of the strippers with respect to each other.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FLOYD R. FRIEND. 

